THE PREVIOUS NIGHT
"Somebody! Help Meseal!" Rainne called out, amid the chaos.
I looked over to my brother, who was curled into a ball. It looked pathetic. But I knew what he was going through. How weak he felt. Like this was all his fault.
I ran over to help him, along with Litton and Von. Immediately as I got there, I noticed he was unconscious. His journal was on the ground next to him. That idiot.
We laid his back against the wall of a house that previously stood next to my own. But mine was no longer there. We were hidden from view of the attackers at least.
"It might be blood loss!" I heard Cierra call out from behind us. She stayed back to help Elaine who seemed to be in a daze. Not that I blame her.
But I don't think it was blood loss that caused him to go unconscious. I stood over Meseal and looked to Litton and Von who were on either side of me. "His spirit could be drained. We need to be careful." I said without wasting a moment.
His journal was beside him, sprawled out on the floor. If he was casting spells in this state, there might be nothing we could do for him. He needs rest, but right now? There's nowhere for him to lay safely.
"Litton, If it's what I think it is, he needs rest, immediately. Take him as far away from here as you can!" I said, beginning to panic. "Please, don't let my brother die!" I said with a tear welling in my eye. For all the shit I've given him, I don't want to see him end like this.
Litton's eyes showed determination. I found him reliable in times like this. "Got it." He said as he dropped his signature spear at his side. "Von." He said as he hunched over.
Von picked up my brother and placed him safely on Litton's back.
Litton stood again and began to run from the village. "Von, come with me, I won't be able to defend Meseal by myself." He said, and without wasting a second added, "Rainne and Ela! We need to get out of here, Meseal is unconscious!"
The two he called out to, were standing behind us and looking into the forest. If a forest beast were to attack us now, there would be nothing any of us could do without proper warning. Our best option was to leave as soon as we could, I understood this.
"What about the two who ran into the village earlier?" I called out to Litton. He looked like he was stressing right now, but I still looked up to him as our leader.
"We can't go back for them, I'm making a decision as the leader, to prioritize the lives of the eight of us over them." He said quickly. Too quickly. He was panicking.
"Don't worry, Nane! Kurt and Gilles are strong! They will be fine!" Rainne said as she and Ela met up with us.
We got ready to leave the village and stood at the entrance to the forest, but I looked back to notice Cierra still wasn't able to get Elaine onto her feet! She was just sitting there, dazed and looking into the flames. Her expression showed it all, she had completely fallen into despair.
"Damnit!" Litton said as he looked back at them. "Nane! Go back and help them! The two of you should be able to move Elaine!"
I complied and ran towards the two.
And then it happened.
As I was running past the house we were previously using as cover, the entire wall facing me exploded into thousands of tiny pieces, and fire violently shot outwards at me.
I was sent flying in the opposite direction. As the sounds of explosions and yells sounded out all around me. I yelled out in pain as my body collided with a forest tree.
I tried to force myself up, I pressed my hands on the snow beneath me, but they slipped on the ice hidden beneath the snow's outer layers. My head kicked backwards, and I fell onto my back. Slowly, everything went dark, and the pain in my limbs dispersed into nothingness as I faded to black.